The quakes of the past 3 weeks in my region Emilia-Romagna killed 26 people, evicted thousands, affected us all. Their most destabilizing aftermath is an overwhelming uncertainty that could last for months, if not years.

All across Europe, governments are issuing warnings concerning the youth, which will one day carry society forward, and perhaps should already be doing so. A generation which grew up with the wealth Europe has been so busy trying to protect, that nobody noticed they had lost it before it was too late. And as a result there is a generation of young people trying to make a living during one of the worst crises in Europe since the 1930's.

When I jumped off the bus with my bag slung across my shoulder, the smell of tanned hide, mint and pot hit my face like a slap. A man in his thirties, smiling broadly, grabs my arm and asks eagerly: "Where are you going?"